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The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) argues that the 2026 Budget prioritises the wealthy and middle class over the vulnerable, leaving critical social grants like the Child Support Grant (CSG) and the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant below the food poverty line. The coalition specifically warns that National Treasury's Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) programme, which aims for R3 billion in savings through intensified grant reviews, is based on flawed assumptions about beneficiary fraud and risks excluding millions of eligible people due to SASSA's capacity constraints.

The document evaluates the Eyethu Soccer League, a gender-tailored intervention for young men in Cape Town designed to reduce violence, HIV risk, and substance use. Despite being well-resourced and based on cognitive-behavioural therapy, a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 1,200 participants found few effects on risk behaviours, with no reported changes in violence perpetration or mental health. The brief concludes that social skills-based programmes are often unable to disrupt the structural factors shaping negative outcomes and recommends that public safety policies avoid 'easy wins' in favour of evidence-based, structurally integrated, and early-childhood interventions.

The document argues that standard lockdown measures are often impractical and potentially more damaging than COVID-19 in Africa due to high poverty levels, weak democratic institutions, and a large informal economy. It highlights risks such as the erosion of democratic processes, food insecurity, and a disproportionate burden on women. The author advocates for localized, flexible responses and calls for wealthier Northern states to provide debt cancellations and aid to prevent regional instability.

The document details how the Philippi Economic Development Initiative (PEDI), in partnership with UCook's Food Fund and Ladles of Love, addressed food insecurity in Cape Town during the Covid-19 pandemic. Key outcomes included the distribution of over 3,667 food parcels, the purchase of 7.3 tonnes of produce from small-scale farmers, and the provision of R190,000 in income to 29 farms. The study highlights the effectiveness of community-led distribution models and the role of urban farming in mitigating acute shocks. Additionally, it describes the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership's (EDP) role in coordinating food relief through a government-NGO forum and the Community Kitchens programme, which provided digital vouchers to 100 informal kitchens across Cape Town.

The document details a resilience-building project in the Witsand informal settlement, where GreenCape, ThinkWifi, and community leaders co-designed solar street lights that provide both area lighting and internet connectivity. This initiative utilizes an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach to provide interim services in an area characterized by a lack of formal tenure and inadequate basic services. The project aims to improve safety, close the digital divide, and foster local economic empowerment, particularly in the context of South Africa's load shedding challenges.

The Oranjezicht City Farm (OZCF) is a non-profit project in Cape Town that promotes urban agriculture and social cohesion. It operates a community farm, a farmers market, and the 'Bokashi Brigade' for decentralized food waste composting. The project contributes to the City of Cape Town's resilience goals by diverting 78-100 tonnes of organic waste from landfills annually and supporting local artisanal food producers.

The research paper examines the Red Door initiative, an $18 million training programme in the Western Cape, South Africa, designed to support micro-entrepreneurs. It argues that the project prioritises political 'puffery' and input metrics—such as the number of visitors—over actual outcomes and sustainable job creation. Critics and managers suggest the current training is too rudimentary and lacks the mentorship and practical experience necessary to help entrepreneurs successfully win tenders or scale their businesses.

The document examines the evolution of diversion in South Africa, moving from disjointed, discretionary practices in the 1990s toward a regulated system under the Child Justice Bill. It details the Bill's mechanisms for expanding diversion, such as compulsory assessments and preliminary inquiries, and categorizes diversion options into three levels based on offence severity. The paper also analyzes the role of the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) as a primary provider and presents cost-benefit analyses suggesting that increased diversion spending would lead to overall government savings by reducing child detention. Evaluation studies of specific programmes like SAYStOP and DIME generally show positive outcomes in reducing recidivism and improving child well-being.

The GreenUp initiative in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, is a collaborative recycling project launched in June 2019 by Distell with support from the City of Cape Town and Western Cape Provincial Government. The project integrates waste pickers into the formal waste management system by providing infrastructure, training, and equipment, enabling them to collect and sell recyclables to buyback centres. Between 2019 and 2022, membership grew from 62 to 120 people. In 2020, the project diverted 60-100 tonnes of recyclables from landfills and generated income for members between R80,000 and R120,000. The model is presented as a potentially replicable approach for implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations by incorporating the informal sector.

The document identifies that urban agriculture (UA) in Cape Town is often viewed only as a food security solution rather than a viable economic activity. It highlights that small urban farmers are frequently locked out of formal markets due to a lack of economies of scale, high investment requirements, and insufficient business management skills. To overcome these, the report suggests the use of formal co-operatives to aggregate produce, the adoption of specific food safety accreditations (such as SAGAP or GlobalGAP), and the development of local physical markets like agrihubs and farm stalls. It also emphasizes the role of online marketplaces and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture's Market Access Programme in bridging the gap between producers and off-takers.

The document argues that South Africa's land administration is severely fragmented by historical racial legacies and a binary distinction between formal and informal systems. It proposes the Integrated Land Administration Project (ILAP) to move toward a socially legitimated system that integrates diverse land rights, improves state capacity, and develops an interoperable national land information system.